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Air India B747-200 simulator finds a new home

 
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747-237
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:18 am    Post subject: Air India B747-200 simulator finds a new home Reply with quote

I had the good fortune to visit the AI 747-200 simulator on two occasions in the early '80s with my dad, while he was undergoing routine checks. As a child, it was an amazing experience to see a flight deck within the confines of an (externally) rectangular room.

Good to see that it will live on !!


http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_now-you-can-have-cockpit-experience_1523945

Now, you can have cockpit experience
March 25, 2011

One of the world’s oldest B-747-200 simulators has found its final resting place at the Nehru Science Centre (NSC) in Worli. It is being readied for display in nine months in a specially built hall.

“Normal construction cannot stand a weight of over 370 tonne. We had to get a special space constructed for this display,” NSC director Anil Manekar told DNA. That, however, was the easiest part of what he described as “a humongous challenge in trying to preserve this representative of our scientific and technical heritage”.

The simulator has been used by Air India for training since the mid-1970s, when the wide-body Boeing 747s or ‘Jumbo Jets’ had become the rage. “As technology moved on, the first simulator soon found fewer takers,” said a senior member of the technical team overseeing its running. “Maintaining the simulator became a struggle as its parts became hard to find. The defunct machine was abandoned in early 2008 and a decision made to scrap it.”

The NSC heard of this and convinced the authorities to part with the simulator so that it can be displayed. “Not many of us are privileged to go into the cockpit and see the systems. We felt this will be the next best thing for people to get that experience,” said Manekar. “The authorities said they would give it to us, but the entire responsibility of dissembling, moving and assembling it would be ours. All they did was refer us to contractor S Desai who was willing to undertake this task.”

Moving the simulator was a slow process, as care had to be taken not to damage it. By the time it was taken apart, brought from the airport, and laid out at the new NSC shed built especially for it, it was mid-2009. The project then hit as a massive roadblock as Desai suffered a heart attack and died.

“I panicked as the dissembled simulator was lying around, occupying over 400 sq ft area without any hope of its ever being assembled now,” said Manekar. “It took eight months of frantic searching to find another man for the job, and it was finally put together.”

Now the dysfunctional mylar screens and the arduous task of checking its 5,500 bulbs in the display are being attended too.

“We want to have airconditioning and add audio effects to give it the real feel,” said the director, who has plans to have an entire aviation-based display in the same shed.

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sumantra
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great news! The NSC in Worli is one of India's finest Science museums, three others being in BITS Pilani, the Visvesvaraya museum in Bengaluru, and the Science city in Calcutta. these are three I have liked, at least - there may be many more.
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fantastic news there.

Hopefully one day there will be an Aviation museum in the City too.
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sumantra
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

New Delhi has the nice Air Force Museum at Palam, which has been discussed in some detail on this forum. The Air Force as an efficient organisation can have an institution like this - I wonder who will take on the gauntlet of Civil Aviation? This will involve a huge lot of maintenance and conservation work, and in this respect, I do not think that Mumbai would be a suitable place, even if such a project crops up - the Mumbai humidity is just a bit too much!
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sumantra wrote:
New Delhi has the nice Air Force Museum at Palam, which has been discussed in some detail on this forum. The Air Force as an efficient organisation can have an institution like this - I wonder who will take on the gauntlet of Civil Aviation? This will involve a huge lot of maintenance and conservation work, and in this respect, I do not think that Mumbai would be a suitable place, even if such a project crops up - the Mumbai humidity is just a bit too much!
Cheers, Sumantra.


When I speak of a Museum it should be something like the Air & Space museum in the USA.
For starts maybe a Area with rooms depicting the story of Aviation & Indian Aviation wide picture frames will suffice.Educating kids on the topic will be a great plus too.

I said Mumbai because I stay here.But any area that can host such a setup in the country is welcome.
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Jaysit
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:09 am    Post subject: Re: Air India B747-200 simulator finds a new home Reply with quote

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_now-you-can-have-cockpit-experience_1523945

Now, you can have cockpit experience
March 25, 2011

“Normal construction cannot stand a weight of over 370 tonne.

The simulator has been used by Air India for training since the mid-1970s, when the wide-body Boeing 747s or ‘Jumbo Jets’ had become the rage. “
[/quote]

A simulator doesn't weigh 370 tonnes. A fully loaded 742 might.

The "747s had become the rage?" What is this? Bellbottoms and platform shoes?

Who writes this crap?
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sammyk
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:38 am    Post subject: Re: Air India B747-200 simulator finds a new home Reply with quote

Jaysit wrote:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_now-you-can-have-cockpit-experience_1523945

Now, you can have cockpit experience
March 25, 2011

“Normal construction cannot stand a weight of over 370 tonne.

The simulator has been used by Air India for training since the mid-1970s, when the wide-body Boeing 747s or ‘Jumbo Jets’ had become the rage. “


A simulator doesn't weigh 370 tonnes. A fully loaded 742 might.

The "747s had become the rage?" What is this? Bellbottoms and platform shoes?

Who writes this crap?[/quote]

To be fair, it seemed every airline was placing an order for some back then.
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747-237
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Apologies for reviving a dead thread, but just wanted to follow up on this. After close to a year and a half, she seems to be sitting in a junk heap at the "science centre".

Just got the following email:


From: nscm@mtnl.net.in
Subject: RE: Simulator Exhibit
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:47:43

Sir,

Due to technical problems, its installation is yet to be completed. It is not opened for public yet.

Regards,

Curator, Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of the IC A300 Sims is in my univ. aerospace hanger.
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patkini
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yea I visited NSC last week & enquired about this. A lot of staff seemed clueless, though some of them did say that it seemed to be primarily due to lack of funds for maintenance, though I am not sure what quantum of funds would be required for the same. Recently the NSC has opened a new section on Global Warming & funds seemed to have been diverted to this initiative

I also, enquired about improving the condition of the HAL HF-24 Marut & there seem no plans to ensure that kids dont go around messing with the same. Captured a snap in a deplorable condition for 1 of India's earliest indigenous aircraft:


Rgds,
Pats
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

She's seen better days.



The simulator building at the Air India offices in Kalina (Santa Cruz East), back in the day.



As I remember her - the "other" 747-237 flight deck I had the opportunity to spend some time on, with my old man.
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finally !! Would love to go (back) to visit !


http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ai-s-first-ever-flight-simulator-to-be-on-public-display-115030800091_1.html

AI's first-ever flight simulator to be on public display

March 8, 2015

National carrier Air India's first-ever flight simulator will soon be opened for public viewing at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai where people can explore its sophisticated cockpit.

Acquired by Air India in 1980, the first flight simulator Boeing 747-200 was in service for about 21 years and used to train hundreds of pilots before it finally landed at the Nehru Science Centre a few years ago.

The artefact is likely to be thrown open for public view by this year end, official sources said.

The authorities at the Centre, functioning under the aegis of the National Council of Science Museums, are in the process of building an exclusive pavilion for the simulator.

"We are creating a pavilion for the simulator and visitors would be allowed to get a first hand experience of the significant simulator," G S Rautela, Director General of National Council of Science Museums, told PTI.

"We may allow visitors to explore the cockpit," he added.

After serving for 21 years and giving hands-on simulator flight experience to hundreds of pilots, it became outdated and was subsequently discontinued from service in 2001.

At this juncture, the sources said, the Nehru Science Centre approached Air India for acquiring the simulator citing its historical relevance.

Thereafter, the simulator was donated by Air India to Nehru Science Centre in 2006, the sources added.

"It will be used for educating the public about the significance of such simulators for flight safety and to provide a visual experience for visitors to the cockpit of aircraft, access to which is restricted to public," Rautela said.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

B747-237: Do you know if AI had a b707 simulator, and if so what happened to it?
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Goat wrote:
B747-237: Do you know if AI had a b707 simulator, and if so what happened to it?

No, to the best of my knowledge, there wasn't ever a B707 simulator machine at the Air India offices in Kalina.
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
Finally !! Would love to go (back) to visit !


I recently had the chance, so took it. Regrettably, there was no sign of the simulator at the Science Center. And of course, none of the staff had a clue to its whereabouts.
Oh well, I tried !


I did see a Conway 508 engine, presumably from an Air India 707. That, for sure, was powered up sometime in the '60s / 70s by my Dad. I wonder if I ever flew aboard an airframe powered by this particular one.

( More on the airplane behind the engine, in this thread : http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=14607)




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PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 6:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
I recently had the chance, so took it.
Fascinating! I do not remember seeing either of these two exhibits during our Dec'2012 family trip to Mumbai, and the Nehru Science Centre at Worli. Of special interested to me in the RR Conway bypass engine. How interchangeable were the engine types on the B707s that AI had? It is also interesting that AI had this engine in its inventory, and by the look of it, ha been kept in excellent condition all these years!
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

8 years after the original story appeared, the Mid Day newspaper in Bombay has a story of it's resurrection, today.
Great to see a pic of the old simulator, more than 3 decades since I was last visited her.



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://pib.nic.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1562615

Air India’s first ever Flight Simulator ready for Public Viewing at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai

Restored Boeing 747-200 Flight Simulator Launched

Agreement signed for development of Aviation Gallery – Hall of Aerospace, Nehru Science Centre


04 FEB 2019

Air India’s first ever Flight Simulator is ready for public viewing at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai. Known as ‘Boeing 747-200’, it was extensively used by the pilots, until due to technological obsolescence, it paved the way for new flight simulators. It was designed and manufactured by the CAE, Canada (earlier known as the Canadian Aviation Electronic Industries Limited) and acquired by Air India in 1980. The Simulator, at that time, was technologically the most advanced flight crew training aid and precisely replicated every function of the aircraft. The simulator has indigenous six-degree motion system operated by hydraulic jacks, which enabled the whole flight deck to move in the horizontal, vertical and lateral axes while rolling, pitching and yawing.

The flight simulator was in service for about 21 years until becoming technologically obsolete and thereafter it was donated to Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai as an artifact. The purpose of the artifact is to create awareness about the significance of simulations in the field of aviation among the public in general and students in particular. This precious artefact provides a glimpse into the remarkable technologies that are associated with flight simulations.

The Boeing 747-200 Flight Simulator, after its restoration, has been launched by Regional Executive Director, Western Region, Airports Authority of India, Mumbai Shri Keshava Sharma at the Nehru Science Centre today. Shri Sharma was also the Chief Guest for the valedictory function of the ongoing Innovation Festival.

On the occasion, a Memorandum of Agreement worth 2 crore rupees was signed between Airports Authority of India and National Council of Science Museums, for development of Aviation Gallery - Hall of Aerospace, Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Sharma said that human beings are by nature thrilled by complexity. He said that the fast-paced technologies such as bullet trains, mobile phones and space vehicles are made possible by both science and human beings, by both human creativity and scientific knowledge. Stating that science is a way to the discovery of truth, Shri Sharma said that truth discovery leads us to facts, which then accumulate into knowledge. Knowledge, when applied to day-to-day problems, leads to the discovery of solutions. There is no limit to creating, utilizing and applying this knowledge, said Shri Sharma.

Shri Sharma added that observation of facts in a scientific manner leads one to formulation of hypotheses and performance of experiments which can be seen uniformly by all of humanity, unlike other fields where different people perceive matters differently. He called upon the audience to observe passionately, form hypotheses, perform experiments and explore how the understanding can be used for the benefit of society. He said that this pursuit gives meaning to his life, and can give meaning to others too, if they follow this path of inquisitiveness.

On this occasion Director, NSC, Shri S.M. Khened informed that approximately 20 thousand people visited the 3-day Innovation festival organized by the Centre, that concluded today. He expressed confidence that work on the Aviation Gallery will be completed in time.

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PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The article states that this is Air India's first simulator. I remember clearly that dad used to go for B707 sim checks at the old airport.
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2019 8:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the Times of India, Bombay; today.


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